Noted Kannada literary figure Chandrashekhar Patil passes away

Bengaluru, January 10

Noted Kannada literary figure Chandrashekhar Patil popularly known as ‘Champa’ has died at a private hospital here on Monday morning, due to age-related ailments.

He was 82 and is survived by wife, a son and a daughter, sources close to his family said.

He was suffering from age-related ailments and was shifted to hospital on Sunday night as his health deteriorated, they said.

A poet, playwright, Patil had also served as president of Kannada Sahitya Parishad.

An activist by nature, he was one of the foremost voices of ‘Bandaya’ genre of Kannada literature. He has participated in several literary and farmers’ movements or agitations including Gokak agitation, Bandaya movement, anti-Emergency agitation among others, and was a strong proponent of Kannada language as a medium of instruction in schools.

Patil, who was a professor of English from Karnataka University, was the editor of the influential literary journal ‘Sankramana’, and had also served as chairman of Kannada Development Authority.

He is recipient of Karnataka Sahitya Akademi Award and Pampa Award among others.

His poetry works include ‘Banuli’, ‘Madhyabindu’and ‘19 Kavanagalu’, and plays include ‘Kodegalu’, ‘Appa’ and ‘Gurtinavaru’. ‘At the Other End’ is an anthology of his poems in English.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai condoling Patil’s death said his contribution to Kannada literary field is immense and his passing away had created a huge void.

Former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, former chief ministers Siddaramaiah and HD Kumaraswamy, and several of Bommai’s cabinet colleagues and political and literary figures condoled Patil’s death. PTI